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About Our Affiliate We are the local affiliate of the National Alliance On Mental Illness. Our organization was founded by family members to improve the lives of persons living with brain disorders.

Founded in 1979, NAMI has over 208,000 members in 1200 affiliates throughout the U.S. and Canada. NAMI Orange County is one of 34 local affiliates of NAMI North Carolina.

No one dealing with mental illness needs to manage alone. If you have a mental illness or have a loved one who has, it is important to have a supportive and understanding organization to help.

As a member of NAMI Orange County, you will share with others and obtain personal support for care giving and self help, guidance toward hospitalization, if needed, and guidance toward professional help. You will be part of efforts to advocate for legislative action toward benefits and services for those with mental illness, the end of discrimination in insurance, housing, and employment, public awareness of the high incidence of mental illness and awareness of how treatable these illnesses are when diagnosed, elimination of the stigma of mental illness, and the need to regard the mentally ill with dignity and respect. You will learn about mental illnesses, which are brain disorders, various treatment options which are available, the current state of public support structures and the level of public funding, and how to live with mental illness on a day-to-day basis.

NAMI Orange County is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a national nonprofit organization, and NAMI North Carolina. We share the same mission: support, education, and advocacy on behalf of individuals with severe mental illness and their families. Our membership consists primarily of family members of persons with mental illness plus those who support our mission. Anyone who supports our mission is welcome to join .

Monthly Support and Program Meetings
Except for July, August and December, we meet most second Saturdays of each month at the Church of Reconciliation at 110 North Elliot Road in Chapel Hill. (During July, August and December we have potluck dinners and occasionally we hold events at other locations.) Go to our calendar to check our current schedule. Our Confidential Sharing Group meets from 9:30-10:15 in a private room (newcomers are welcome). At the same time in the meeting room we enjoy refreshments, fellowship and discussion. From 10:30-12:00 our program is educational in nature, and most often features a speaker. We also sponsor social and other special events. Family to Family, a comprehensive course for family members of persons with mental illness, is offered in the Spring and Fall. When you join NAMI Orange County, you will automatically become a member of NAMI North Carolina and NAMI national, and receive newsletters, legislative updates, and other materials about local, state and national activities.

NAMI Orange County Board of Directors

President - Lisa Hamill

Vice President - Garry Gaddy

Secretary - Mary Lynn Piven

Treasurer - Robert Weimer

Consumer Representative - Kristi Myers

Family-To-Family Class Coordinators - Gove and Barbara Elder

Housing - Open

Membership - Open

Helpline - Gary Gaddy

Newsletter - Julia Trimmer

Programs - Virginia Hill

Professional Representative - Bebe Smith

Publicity & Development - Joanna Bowen

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